It was another visa run visit to Pakistan. My second one this year so far. It was a short trip, long enough to be bored at home doing nothing but too short to explore Pakistan like I did in the previous visit. So I started stalking my Instagram for photos of all the hashtags and accounts under Pakistan-related travels.

There were a lot of local photographers, feature accounts and travelers of course. Hidden within I came across a few international travelers/ bloggers.

I reached out two inspirational travel girls (bloggers) who absolutely love Pakistan and have visited many times. One is Alex who knows more about Pakistan than I do and the other is Eva who is still planning to live in and explore Pakistan till the end of the year. In fact, I was fortunate enough to have coffee with Eva on my recent trip. I was amazed by their personalities and nature and it wasn’t just because they had visited Pakistan.

So we asked them a few questions about why they love Pakistan so much and if they would recommend other travelers to visit. Here’s what they had to say.

Tell us a bit about yourself and the blog. How did it start? Why? Where would you like to take it?

Alex:  Hey all! I’m Alex, the 20-something-year-old girl behind Lost With Purpose, a travel blog all about visiting “off the beaten track” destinations. The whole thing started before I started this life of perpetual travel, late in 2015. I was researching the places I wanted to visit—Georgia, Iran, Pakistan—and I couldn’t find anything particularly useful, recent, or well-presented. Working as a usability designer at the time, it drove me absolutely nuts!

I began to write with the intention of dismantling bias and challenging negative stereotypes. These days, I’m inspiring and helping women around the world to get out the door and live out their dreams of travel, regardless of where they’re from.

Eva: I am a travel vlogger and Instagrammer currently based in Pakistan. I have been traveling around the country for a few months, exploring its beauty and creating meaningful content to convey this beauty to the world.

At the beginning of 2018, I decided to quit my high-paying job in London and pursue my dream of creating travel content for a living. And that’s how the adventure began. I went around Asia for a few months, until ending up in Pakistan and deciding to stay here for a long while.

In the near future, I want to continue working on improving the image of Pakistan. I am very passionate about this country and I know for sure that it has so much to offer. We just need to work on promoting it as a good tourist destination, showcase its beauty across media and help improve the tourism infrastructure that is in place here.

How many times have you visited Pakistan?

Alex: Three times, and I’ll likely be back within the year. Clearly, I’m addicted!

Eva: I have visited Pakistan twice: the first time was in April 2018, and then I came back a couple of months later. I guess I just couldn’t get enough!

What made you decide to visit?

Alex: When Sebastiaan (my ex) and I were plotting our eastwards overland journey, we had two practical options to exit Iran: Turkmenistan and Pakistan (Afghanistan was a bit too much to digest… back then, anyway).

I remember sitting on the floor of our apartment one afternoon, poring over Google Maps, when I proposed we cross the land border between Iran and Pakistan. Sebastiaan gagged and told me it was a stupid and dangerous idea (my specialty). We researched a bit online, and the internet said the same thing… but then we researched a bit more and found a couple of forum posts from people who’d survived the crossing and had a blast in Pakistan. Well, if other people could do it… why not us? Slowly but surely I had him convinced, and so we came to Pakistan several months later.

Eva: My very first visit happened because of a friend who had been living in Pakistan for a few years. She heard that I had gone traveling across Asia, and told me that I must visit Pakistan too! Although the country had not been on my initial itinerary, I was intrigued by my friend’s suggestion – she claimed it was safe and naturally beautiful. Soon enough, I decided to make time for Pakistan on my journey.

People (mainly media) often talk about how unsafe Pakistan is. What was your perception of Pakistan before you visited?

Alex: Not particularly good, of course. I’d seen all the headlines about bombings and terrorists and kidnappings. Taliban this, Taliban that. The internet wasn’t much consolation—before traveling I read through wikis on Pakistan and I’m pretty sure they were edited by a bunch of nationalist Indians. To summarize, they said if I traveled to Pakistan I was going to either die by a bomb blast or be poisoned by someone’s food on the train. Very promising.

Eva: I think like many people, my initial perception of Pakistan was shaped by a lack of knowledge and understanding. There simply isn’t enough balanced information back home about this country. In fact, Western media often portray Pakistan as unsafe and unstable – certainly not a destination for backpackers. So when I told my family that I will be traveling here, they nearly didn’t let me go! Of course, my views on Pakistan changed almost as soon as I arrived here.

How did the perception change?

Alex: If I’ve been back three times, clearly it changed for the better! Overall, it’s become much more positive. Pakistani hospitality is almost unrivaled, and some of my best friends I’ve made on the road are now in Pakistan. The northern nature is divine, and I love the timelessness of the historical places and cultures in the south.

Sure,  I do think there are still many problems and bad mindsets within the country but I don’t think tourists need to worry about bombings and kidnappings and whatever other crap the news tells you,

Eva: I’ll start out by saying that this perception changed as soon as I got into my friend’s car when she picked me up at the airport during my first visit. We were driving back home on the roads of Islamabad, and I noticed that unlike many other Asian cities, drivers actually seemed to follow rules here! To be honest, that was a very positive shock.

With every new day that I spent in Pakistan, I learned more and more about the country and its people. The more I learned, the more radically my perspective shifted. I realized that people here are largely kind, generous and welcoming – not as scary as western media would have me believe. To put it simply, I was blown away by Pakistan, because every corner revealed a new surprise.

What is your favorite thing to do in Pakistan? Or rather what surprised you the most and fell in love?

Alex: Be invited to dinners in people’s homes! Partially because I’m a total glutton, but also because coming from a closed Western society, it’s fantastic to me that a total stranger would so readily invite me off the street into their home for a cup of chai or a meal. This kind of hospitality never ceases to amaze me, and it’s what really sets the country apart from other places in the world.

Eva: My favorite thing about being in Pakistan is the sense of discovery that accompanies me every single day. Like trying new food or meeting new people. Every day is an adventure here.

But of course, the thing I absolutely fell in love with here is the natural beauty of the country. Some of the world’s tallest peaks, bluest lakes, and breathtaking vistas grace this amazing land. Every time I get a chance to visit Swat or Gilgit-Baltistan, I cherish every beautiful day in this area.

Finally, what is the ONE tip you would give to others wanting to visit or would say to someone to convince them to visit?

Alex: If you’re thinking about visiting—or on the fence—I recommend you say so online. You’re going to be amazed by how many people will respond with offers to help you, host you, show you around. It’s a good digital introduction to how forward and helpful people can be. Facebook groups like the Karakoram Club or Backpacking Pakistan are a good place to start… heck, I’ve had people comment about their interest in visiting on my Instagram posts and get offers for assistance there! Visiting Pakistan is like deciding to jump into the ocean. It might seem too vast or dangerous or unfathomable at first, but once you’re in and swimming, it’s another world entirely.

Eva: Pakistan isn’t perfect. It’s not an easy destination to go to, nor an easy one to plan for. People tell you not to go. But if you do go, I guarantee love at first sight. There is nothing like Pakistani hospitality, nothing like the natural beauty here, nothing like the sense of discovery and adventure that only Pakistan can give you.  Get ready to fall head over heels…

so next time you’re planning a trip to Pakistan or are already there, hit one of these travelers up for some great advice.